Illegal fireworks injure boy, 6, and uncle in East Side park, set house on fire
A 6-year-old boy and his 19-year-old uncle were burned by illegal fireworks set off on the Fourth of July in Willert Park, a small park just east of downtown, police and fire officials said.
The boy and his uncle were among several family members who had gathered in the park near the intersection of West Peckham and Mortimer streets when they were injured at about 11:15 p. m., authorities said.
The boy suffered second-degree burns to his leg and the teen suffered an injury to one eye. The injuries were caused by an exploding Roman candle or bottle rocket, Buffalo police spokesman Michael J. De- George said.
The boy was taken to Women and Children’s Hospital for treatment.
The uncle was taken to Buffalo General Hospital. It was not clear Saturday whether the uncle would permanently lose sight in the injured eye.
Fire marshals were investigating who was setting off the fireworks and how they were obtained.
On Saturday afternoon, Willert Park, located across the street from the Willert Park housing development, was deserted. The remnants of dozens and dozens of firecrackers, bottle rockets and Roman candles were strewn all across the basketball court.
Nearby residents said they heard fireworks going off for much of the night, but were not aware anyone had been hurt.
In a second incident involving illegal fireworks this Independence Day, firecrackers landed on the roof of a house at 77 Sheffield St. in South Buffalo at about 8:30 p. m., sparking a fire in the attic.
It was unclear Saturday whether the house was occupied but no one was home at the time of the incident and no one was injured. The blaze caused $10,000 in damage to the house.
The incidents came the same day an O’- Connell Avenue man was arrested for selling illegal fireworks out of his trailer in South Buffalo.
Fire marshals had received tips about the fireworks sales and began staking the trailer out.
James E. Moon, 33, was charged with unlawfully dealing with fireworks. Authorities found about $1,000 worth of fireworks in his trailer.
Last week, a 6-year-old boy started a devastating fire on the West Side when he set off a firecracker in a bedroom. The fire destroyed four houses, leaving six families homeless. No one was injured in the fire, although the boy’s aunt had to rescue him from the burning bedroom.
Leon Sapp Jr., 49, of Midland Avenue, Town of Tonawanda, was arrested for allegedly selling the firecrackers that ended up in the boy’s hands.
And last Saturday, fire marshals arrested Kevin P. Domblewski, 40, after they found two tons of commercial fireworks imported from Ohio in a storage facility in the Clinton-Bailey neighborhood. Authorities say he planned to sell the fireworks on the black market.
